2. A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called
natural meadow.
[1913 Webster]

{Prairie chicken} (Zo["o]l.), any American grouse of the
genus {Tympanuchus}, especially {Tympanuchus Americanus}
(formerly {Tympanuchus cupido}), which inhabits the
prairies of the central United States. Applied also to the
sharp-tailed grouse.

{Prairie clover} (Bot.), any plant of the leguminous genus
{Petalostemon}, having small rosy or white flowers in
dense terminal heads or spikes. Severalspecies occur in
the prairies of the United States.

{Prairie dock} (Bot.), a coarse composite plant ({Silphium
terebinthaceum}) with large rough leaves and yellow
flowers, found in the Western prairies.

{Prairie dog} (Zo["o]l.), a small American rodent ({Cynomys
Ludovicianus}) allied to the marmots. It inhabits the
plains west of the Mississippi. The prairie dogs burrow in
the ground in large warrens, and have a sharp bark like
that of a dog. Called also {prairie marmot}.

{Prairie grouse}. Same as {Prairie chicken}, above.

{Prairie hare} (Zo["o]l.), a large long-eared Western hare
({Lepus campestris}). See {Jack rabbit}, under 2d {Jack}.

{Prairie hawk}, {Prairie falcon} (Zo["o]l.), a falcon of
Western North America ({Falco Mexicanus}). The upper parts
are brown. The tail has transverse bands of white; the
under parts, longitudinal streaks and spots of brown.

{Prairie snake} (Zo["o]l.), a large harmless American snake
({Masticophis flavigularis}). It is pale yellow, tinged
with brown above.

{Prairie squirrel} (Zo["o]l.), any American ground squirrel
of the genus {Spermophilus}, inhabiting prairies; --
called also {gopher}.

{Prairie turnip} (Bot.), the edible turnip-shaped farinaceous
root of a leguminous plant ({Psoralea esculenta}) of the
Upper Missouri region; also, the plant itself. Called also
{pomme blanche}, and {pomme de prairie}.

{Prairie warbler} (Zo["o]l.), a bright-colored American
warbler ({Dendroica discolor}). The back is olive yellow,
with a group of reddish spots in the middle; the under
parts and the parts around the eyes are bright yellow; the
sides of the throat and spots along the sides, black;
three outer tail feathers partly white.